“No possession, no evidence, no consumption, no conspiracy"
Juhi Chawla was responsible for paying Rs 1 Lakh (£1,000) bond prior to Aryan Khan’s release from jail.
The actress, a long term friend of the Khan family, appeared at Mumbai Sessions Court to stand surety.
This meant that she would be legally responsible if Khan himself failed to pay the money that he owed.
Chawla said outside the court: “I’m just happy that it’s all over and Aryan Khan will come home very soon.
“I think it’s a big relief for everybody.”
“Now the child will come home.”
Juhi Chawla is one of Shah Rukh Khan’s earliest co-stars and the pair have appeared in a number of movies together.
These included Darr (1993), Ram Jaane (1995), and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000).
They are also currently two of four owners of the IPL Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team.
The other two are Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s production company and Chawla’s businessman husband, Jay Mehta.
Aryan Khan’s bail application was rejected for the fourth time by a special NDPS court in Mumbai on Friday, October 22, 2021.
However, his legal team appealed the decision at Mumbai High Court where it was finally granted on Thursday, October 28, 2021.
Arbaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also arrested in connection with the case, had their own requests accepted as well.
Khan’s lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, argued in court that Indian law “provides for young boys with no antecedents (to be treated) as victims, rather than (as) hardened criminals”.
He added:
“They are entitled (to) rehab and there is immunity (from) prosecution in rehab. It is a fit case for bail.”
The superstar’s son was among those arrested after a Cordelia Cruises ship was targeted in a raid by India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Various substances including cocaine, MDMA and Mephedrone are all believed to have been consumed during a party aboard the ship.
However, it was later confirmed that Khan himself did not have any drugs in his possession.
He remained in custody as the NCB alleged that “incriminating” WhatsApp chats indicated that he was in fact regularly involved with drugs.
The bureau also claimed that he could tamper with evidence if he was released.
They also claimed that Khan had links to international drug trafficking.
Following the news of his release, Shah Rukh Khan broke his silence on the case by releasing a photo of himself with his son’s lawyers.
The image, which has since gone viral, includes Amit Desai and Satish Maneshinde.
In a statement, the legal team said:
“No possession, no evidence, no consumption, no conspiracy, right from the first moment when he was detained on Oct 2!
“Satyameva Jayate!”
Khan’s sister Suhana Khan also celebrated her brother’s release in an Instagram post.
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